Lock handle assembly



March 29, 1966 P. E. KENAGA LOCK HANDLE ASSEMBLY Original Filed July 25,1962 Paul E. K enaga INVEN TOR.

ATTYS United States Patent 3,242,707 LOCK HANDLE ASSEMBLY Paul E.Kenaga, Portland, Oreg., assignor to The Western Overhead Door Co.,Portland, Greg., a corporation of Oregon Continuation of applicationSer. No. 211,769, July 23, 1962. This application Feb. 12, 1965, Ser.No. 438,163 8 Claims. (Cl. 70-141) This application is a continuation ofan application entitled Lock Handle Assembly having Serial No. 211,-769, filed on July 23, 1962, now abandoned.

This invention relates to lock mechanisms, more particularly lockmechanisms of the type that may be used in locking and releasing a door.The lock mechanism of the invention is characterized by a number offeatures that make it reliable, and easy to manipulate on either side ofa door, when the same is installed.

The lock mechanism is described herein as being installed on a garagedoor, such representing a typical application for the lock mechanism.Such has been done in order to facilitate a clear understanding of theinvention, however, it should be understood that the mechanism is usefulin other applications, where similar operating conditions areencountered.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved lockmechanism, which is relatively simple in construction and operation, yetprovides for the making of several important adjustments therein,contributing to the usefulness of the lock mechanism.

More specifically, an object is to provide lock mechanism that includesa lock rod or bar (for latching and unlatching a door), and improvedmeans for actuating said lock rod or bar, whereby the same may beshifted between positions latching and unlatching a door.

A related object is to provide lock mechanism of the above description,that includes novel mechanism operating in conjunction with a lock rodor bar that is adjustable between positions where the lock rod is eitherlocked in place or released for movement. Preferably such mechanism isactuated by means accessible on either side of a door.

Another object of the invention is to provide such lock mechanism,including a lock rod, that enables latching and unlatching of a doorthrough the lock rod, from either side of the door, and means wherebysuch latching may be done without locking of the lock rod in a positionwhere a door is latched.

Yet another object is to provide lock mechanism, including a lock rod,that further includes biasing means or mechanism operable yieldably tohold the lock rod in both its latching and unlatched positions. Onshifting of the lock rod, such biasing means operates to throw the rodfirmly into its final adjusted position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide lock mechanism thatis adapted to be mounted on numerous types of doors, and may be usedwithout modification on either the rightor left-hand side of a door.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the invention andthe same is described hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates lock mechanism according to an embodiment of theinvention, with such mounted on the inside of a right-hand door;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, on a somewhat larger scale, illustrating thelock mechanism, and various parts used in mounting it on a door;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the lock mechanism with a section of itshousing removed;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating a 3,242,707Patented Mar. 29, 1956 different position for the parts within the lockmechanism; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a latch member present in the construction.

Referring first of all to FIG. 1, the lock mechanism is shown as itmight be mounted on the inside of a right-hand door. The lock mechanismis indicated generally at 10, and is mounted adjacent the right-handedge of a door, indicated at 12.

A conventional garage door is an overhead type of door, that is openedby shifting the same upwardly with the door traveling on tracks. Aportion of one of such tracks is indicated at 14. Lock mechanism 10includes a lock rod or bar 18 slidably mounted for longitudinal movementwithin the base of a housing 16. With rod 18 shifted to a positionextended from the housing, i.e., the position shown in FIG. 1 for therod, the right end 18a of the rod engages part of track 14, thus tolatch the door in a closed position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, housing 16 of the lock mechanismcomprises sections 16a, 16b detachably secured together by means ofscrew 20. These two housing sections, between opposed faces of thehousing over the front and back thereof, define a cavity within thehousing receiving operating parts of the lock mechanism. In FIGS. 3 and4, section 16b of the housing has been removed, and the operating partswithin the hous ing are shown as they appear mounted on remainingsection 16a.

While the housing has been described as having a front and back, itshould be understood that the lock mechanism can be mounted with eitherof its faces against a door. With a right-hand door, section 1611 andthe face it includes is against a door (as shown). In using themechanism with a left-hand door, the housing is turned over, by turningit on its side, to place housing section 16a and the face it includesagainst the door.

Lock rod or bar 18 has ends 18a, 18b protruding out from either side ofthe housing. The bar projects out through slots 22 provided in the sidesof the housing. One end of the bar (end 18b in the figures) extends awayfrom the door jamb and is provided with a knob, handle, or actuator 24,which is used on the inside of the door to shift the bar longitudinallybetween latching and unlatched positions. End 18a of the bar is thelocking end of the bar. The knob is detachable, enabling the knob to beconnected to the opposite side of rod end 18b, when the mechanism isturned over and used with a left-hand door.

The lock rod may also be shifted longitudinally between its latching andunlatched positions by means accessible from outside the door.Describing now this means, and referring to FIG. 2, a turn handle with adepending or free end portion 30a (the gripping portion) is shown at 30,journaled within a mounting 31. The mounting is mounted by means ofscrews 32 on the outside of the door. Handle 30 is connected to a handleshaft 34, having a square cross section, and on turning of the handlethe shaft is turned about its longitudinal axis. The shaft extends intothe housing through an opening similar to opening 36 shown for housingsec tion 16a (with a left-hand door, the shaft extends into the housingthrough opening 36).

Within the housing (and now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4) and pivotallymounted on sections 16a, 16b above bar 18 is a pivoted member 38. Themember pivots about an axis extending transversely of 'bar 18 andsubstantially perpendicular to the faces at the front and back of thehousing. Member 38 includes a hubportion 40, with a passage 42 of squarecross section extending therethrough. Shaft 34 fits snugly withinpassage 42 and thus on turning of handle 24 pivoted member 38 pivotsabout its pivot axis.

Operatively interposed between pivoted member 38 and bar 18 is a pin 46and a compression spring 48. The function of spring 48 is to exert aproper bias on the lock rod. Pin 46 connects member 38 and the lock rodso that on pivotal movement of member 38 longitudinal shifting of therod results.

More specifically, pin 46 has a mounting portion 50 at its lower endpivotally connected to the lock rod by screw 52. The upper end of thepin is slidably received within a bore 54 provided in member 38. Thisbore accommodates movement of the pin into and out of member 38, such asoccurs when member 38 is swung from the position shown in FIG. 3 to theposition shown in FIG. 4. The pin and its mounting thus comprisesextensible means connecting pivoted member 38 and the lock rod. The pinis stiff, and when the pivoted member is moved, the lower end of the pinshifts laterally to produce longitudinal shifting of the lock rod.

Compression spring 48 exerts a force in a direction extending downwardlyand to the left in FIG. 3, and is operable yieldably to hold the lockrod in the position shown in FIG. 3. In shifting the lock rod betweenthe positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper and lower ends of pin 46and spring 48 shift past a position of alignment in a directionextending perpendicularly of the longitudinal axis of the lock rod. Withthe lock rod in the position of FIG. 4, spring 48 exerts a forceextending downwardly and to the right in the figure. Thus the springbiases the rod in opposite directions in the two positions of the lockrod, with the change in direction resulting from the swinging of thespring ends past the position of alignment mentioned. The spring, inaddition to holding yieldably the rod in a particular position, alsofunctions during adjustment in the position of the rod to throw the barfirmly into its new position.

Bores 60, 61 are provided in the lock rod, to accorn modate a change inthe location of the connection between mounting 50 and the rod. Thus, ifit is desired to have the leftend of the rod (the rods locking end)protrude farther from the housing than is shown in FIG. 3, the mountingand bar may be interconnected with screw 52 passing through bore 60, orbore 61. The adjustment is advantageous in adapting the lock mechanismfor different installations as, for instance, different widths ofmounting surfaces. Ordinarily the mechanism is mounted as far asconveniently possible inwardly from the door jamb in order that handle30 on the outside of the door he kept as far as possible from the edgeof the door.

Mechanism is provided for locking pivoted member 38, when the lock rodit is connected to is in its extended or latching position (as shown inFIG. 3). With member 38 locked, the lock rod is locked from movement.

More specifically, slidably mounted in the housing, for movement up anddown above member 38, is a latch member (night latch) 66. The lower end66a of the latch member fits within a step 70 provided in the top ofpivoted member 38. An upper end 66b protrudes above the top of thehousing. Upper end 66b may be raised manually, to produce lifting oflower end 66a out of step 70, and release of the lock rod.

Means is provided for locking the latch member, or night latch, in itsfully raised position, i.e., the position of FIG. 4 (one of two releasepositions of the latch The slot moves into knuckles.

lease positions from outside the door, using a key. Thus, referring toFIG. 2, at 84 there is indicated a conventional key-actuated cylinderlock, including a rotatable plug or element 86 that may be turned withthe appropriate key. Projecting from and joined to the plug is a blade88. Blade 88 projects through the door and into the housing through anopening similar to opening 90 in section 16b (with a left-hand door, theblade projects through opening 90).

Iournaled within the housing between the sides of latch member 66 is arotatable lifter element 92. This has crossed slots 84 extending axiallytherethrough, one of which receives the end of blade 88. As can be seenbest in FIG. 5, the latch member 66 has an opening 96 thereinaccommodating the insertion of blade 88 therethrough and into thecrossed slots of the lifter element.

Lifter element 92 includes an arm 98 extending to one side thereof whichabuts a projection 100 integral with the latch member. On turning ofblade 88 and rotation of the lifter element, arm 88 operates to forcethe latch member upwardly, to the'position shown in dashed outline inFIG. 3, which is the other release mentioned for the member. Arm 102 oflifter element 92 limits rotation of the lifter element, whereby thelifter element is prevented from fully raising the latch member to itsfirst-mentioned release position, or far enough to allow detent 76 tofall into slot 78.

A return spring for returning the latch member to its lowered, lockingposition is indicated at 104. The spring is interposed between the topof the housing and the top of arm 100.

Explaining now the operation of the device, FIG. 4 illustrates how thelock mechanism may be used for the unlatching and latching of a door,without the lock rod becoming locked in place. To use the mechanism inthis manner, latch member 66 may be raised manually, on the inside ofthe door, enough to enable catch 74 to lock the latch member in itsfully elevated position. .When this is done, the pivoted member is freeto pivot back and forth, between the position shown indashed outline(which is the position the member has when the bar is in its latchingposition) and the position shown in solid outline (which is the positionthe member has when bar 18 is in its unlatched position). The lock rodor bar may be shifted on the outside of the door using handle 30, and onthe inside of the door using knob 24.

It should be noted that when the lock'rod or bar is shifted from itslatching to its unlatched position, member 38 is pivoted in acounterclockwise direction in FIG. 4, which would be in a clockwisedirection in FIG. 2 if the member were visible. 'Thus, to unlatch thedoor, handle 30 in FIG. 2 is swung from the position shown in aclockwise direction, or in a direction where its depending portion 301:moves away from the edge of the door. This is important, as it protectsagainst bruised With the lock mechanism turned over and used on aleft-hand door, to unlatch handle 30 is turned in the oppositedirection, which with a left-hand door is also away from the edge of thedoor.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it is desired to enable unlatching of the dooron the outside only when using a key, then catch 74 is shifted manuallyaway from the latch member, to release the latch member, with the lattertraveling downwardly against the top of the pivoted member. With thelock rod in its extended or latching position, as shown in FIG. 3,pivoted member 38 becomes locked in place. In this condition of theparts, the lock rod is immovable, and cannot be shifted either by knob24 or handle 30. Unlatching of the door, however, can be done on theinside, by raising the night latch sufficiently so that it clears thebottom of the pivoted member. Unlatching may be done on the outside, byusing a key and rotating the lifter so as to release the night latch.

It should be noted that the organization accommodates several kinds ofadjustment contributing to theutility of the mechanism. The mechanism iswell suited, for instance, for a service station operator who might wishto latch a door closed but who wants to be free to open the door fromthe outside without the use of a key. Locked protection is available byreleasing the night latch, with the door then still being openable fromboth sides, but only with a key on the outside or by lifting of thenight latch manually on the inside.

The mechanism is readily used on either rightor lefthand doors, byturning the appropriate side of the mechanism under. With either type ofdoor the mechanism is used with, shifting of lock rod 18 to an unlatchedposition using handle 30 is done by turning the handle away from thedoor jamb. The mechanism is readily adjusted to fit different types ofdoors, where different degrees of extension in the lock rod is desired.The mechanism is relatively free of complex parts, and trouble free inoperation.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described, it isappreciated that various modifications and variations are possiblewithout departing from the invention. It is desired to cover all suchmodifications and variations, that might be apparent to one skilled inthe art, and that come within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Lock mechanism comprising a housing, a lock rod mounted on saidhousing with ends protruding to either side thereof, said lock rod beingmovable between latching and unlatched positions, biasing mechanism.

operatively connected to said lock rod operable yieldably to hold saidrod in its latching position with the rod shifted to the position, andoperable yieldably to hold said rod in its unlatched position with therod shifted to this position, a turn handle mounted on said housingoperatively connected to said rod for shifting said rod between its twosaid positions, and means connected to one of said protruding ends forshifting said lock rod manually between its two said positions.

2. Lock mechanism comprising a housing, a pivoted member pivotallymounted on said housing, an elongated lock rod mounted on said housingto one side of said pivoted member for movement between latching andunlatched positions, means connecting said pivoted member and lock rodoperable to slide the lock rod from one to the other of its positions onpivotal movement of said pivoted member, a turn handle connected to saidpivoted member and mounted on the outside of said housing for pivotingthe pivoted member, and an elongated spring operatively interposedbetween said pivoted member and lock rod exerting a bias operableyieldably to hold the lock rod in either of its two said positions, saidspring shifting in position relative to said rod on movement of said rodbetween its two said positions whereby it changes the direction itbiases said rod on the rod shifting from one to the other of itspositions.

3. Lock mechanism comprising a housing, a pivoted member pivotallymounted within said housing, an elongated lock rod slidably mounted insaid housing to one side of said pivoted member for movement in a longi-.tudinal direction between latching and unlatched positions, extensiblemeans connecting said pivoted member and lock rod operable to slide thelock rod from one to the other of its positions on pivotal movement ofsaid pivoted member, a turn handle connected to said pivoted member andmounted on the outside of said housing for pivoting the pivoted member,and an elongated compression spring encircling said extensible means andoperatively interposed between said pivoted member and lock rod exertinga bias operable yieldably to hold the lock rod in either of its two saidpositions, said spring having ends that shift past a position ofalignment in a direction extending perpendicularly to .the longitudinalaxis of said rod on movement of said rod between its two said positionswhereby it changes the direction it biases said rod on the rod shiftingfrom one to the other of its positions.

4. Lock mechanism comprising a housing, an elongated lock rod mounted insaid housing for movement between latching and unlatched positions, amovable latch member with an inner end inside the housing for lockingsaid lock rod in its latching position, said latch member having anouter end protruding out from and exposed on the outside of saidhousing, said latch member having first and second release positions, akey-actuated cylinder lock connected to said latch member and operablewhen actuated to shift the latch member to its first release positiononly, said latch member being shiftable .to its second release positionby manipulation of its said protruding end, and catch means for lockingsaid latch member in its said second release position.

5. Lock mechanism comprising a housing, an elongated lock rod mounted insaid housing for movement between latching and unlatched positions, amovable latch having an inner end within the housing for locking saidlock rod in its latching position, biasing means operatively connectedto said latch urging said latch to a locking position where its saidinner end locks said lock rod in its latching position, said latchhaving an outer end outside the housing which may be manipulatedmanually .to move said latch against the urging of said biasing means toa retracted position, a key-actuated cylinder lock connected to saidlatch and operable when actuated to shift the latch to a releaseposition intermediate said locking and retracted positions, said lockrod being released by said latch with the latch in both its release andretracted positions, catch means for locking said latch in its retractedposition only, and biasing means for urging said catch to a positionlocking said latch.

6. Lock mechanism for leftor right-hand door closures, comprising ahousing with opposite faces, each of which is adapted to be mountedagainst the side of a door; a shiftable lock rod extending through thehousing, substantially paralleling its faces, having a locking endprotruding from one side of the housing and an actuating end protrudingfrom the opposite side of the housing; said lock rod having a latchingposition where its locking end is extended from said one side of thehousing, and an unlatched position where its said actuating end isextended from the opposite side of the housing; an actuator on theprotruding actuating end of the lock bar that, with either face of thehousing against a door, presents a gripping agency to manipulate thelock rod for a user positioned in front of the housing face which isopposite to the one position against the door; a movable member withinthe housing for shifting the lock rod from its unlatched to its latchingposition; a handle assembly including a handle shaft; and means in bothfaces of the housing accommodating the making of an operable connectionof said handle shaft with said movable member, with said handle shaftprojecting out from either face of the housing.

7. Lock mechanism for rightor left-hand door closures, comprising ahousing with opposite faces, each of which is adapted to be mountedagainst the side of a door; a shiftable lock rod extending through thehousing, substantially paralleling its faces, having a locking endprotruding from one side of the housing and an actuating end protrudingfrom the opposite side of the housing; said lock rod having a latchingposition where its said locking end is extended from said one side ofthe housing, and an unlatched position wherein its said actuating end isextended from the opposite side of the housing; a movable member withinthe housing for shifting the lock rod from its unlatched to its latchingposition, a handle assembly including a handle shaft; means in bothfaces of said housing where-by, with either face of the housing againsta door, an operable connection of said handle shaft with said member maybe effected with said handle shaft projecting through the door and thatface of the housing which is against the door; and an actuator tofacilitate manual shifting of the lock rod on the protruding actuatingend of said lock rod adapted to be mounted on either side of the lockrod at said protruding actuating end and in operative positionprojecting out from the side of 'the lock rod which faces away from thatface of the housing which is positioned against a door.

8. Lock mechanism for rightor left-hand door closures, comprising ahousing with opposite faces, each of which is adapted to be mountedagainst the side of a door; a shiftable lock rod extending through thehousing, substantially paralleling its faces, having a locking endprotruding from one side of the housing and an actuating end protrudingfrom the opposite side of the housing; said lock rod having a latchingposition where its said locking end is extended from said one side ofthe housing, and an unlatched position wherein its said actuating end isextended from the opposite side of the housing; biasing means foryieldably holding the lock rod in its unlatched position; a movablemember within the housing for shifting the lock rod from its unlatchedto its latching position; a handle assembly including a handle shaft;means in both faces of said housing whereby, with either face of thehousing against a door, an

operable connection of said handle shaft with said member may beeffected with said handle shaft projecting through the door and thatface of the housing which is against the door; an actuator to facilitatemanual shifting of the lock rod on the protruding actuatingend of saidlock rod adapted to be mounted on either side of the lock rod and inoperative position projecting out from the side of the lock rod whichfaces away from that face of the housing which is positioned against adoor; and latch means for holding the lock rod in its latching positionwhen shifted into such latter position by either said actuator or saidhandle assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS3/1922 Great Britain. 6/1951 Italy.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner.

1. LOCK MECHANISM COMPRISING A HOUSING, A LOCK ROD MOUNTED ON SAIDHOUSING WITH ENDS PROTRUDING TO EITHER SIDE THEREOF, SAID LOCK ROD BEINGMOVABLE BETWEEN LATCHING AND UNLATCHED POSITIONS, BIASING MECHANISMOPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LOCK ROD OPERABLE YIELDABLY TO HOLD SAIDROD IN ITS LATCHING POSITION WITH THE ROD SHIFTED TO THE POSITION, ANDOPERABLE YIELDABLY TO HOLD SAID ROD IN ITS UNLATCHED POSITION WITH THEROD SHIFTED TO THIS POSITION, A TURN HANDLE MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSINGOPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ROD FOR SHIFTING SAID ROD BETWEEN ITS TWOSAID POSITIONS, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID PROTRUDING ENDS FORSHIFTING SAID LOCK ROD MANUALLY BETWEEN ITS TWO SAID POSITIONS.